Shut-off for thermoelectrically powered control devices



Oct. 21, 1958' I R;B.' MATTHEW-S1 2,356,946

SHUT-OFF FOR THEIMIOEIJICTR]:CALL! POWERED CONTROL DEVICES Filed Nov. 23, 1951 v 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Oct. 21, 1958 Filed Nov. 25, 1951 .mlmun R. MATTI-YIEWS 2,856,946

SHUT-OFF. FOR THERMOELECTRICALLY POWERED CONTROL DEVICES 7 2 SheetseSheet 2 INVENTOR.

fiwsell 5, Naif/@6103 SHUT-F FOR TIERMOELECTRICALLY POWERED CONTROL DEVICES Russell B. iMatthews, Wauwatosa, Wis, assignor to Base Inc., Milwaukee, Wis., a corporation of Wisconsin Application .Novemberi23, 1951, Serial No. 257,688

claims. on. 137-55 This invention relates, in general, to thermoelectrically powered control devices,-and has particular relation to an improved-flow shut-01f for such devices.

While the particular device which will be described hereinafter in connection with the drawings is a thermoelectrically powered control device having not only a main burner valve member and a pilot burner valve member, but also a shut-off cock and a thermoelectrically powered electromagnet operator for the main burner valve, it is to be understood that the present invention isnot, in itsv broader aspects, limited to this particular type of device. In prior practice, thermoelectric safety shut-off devices "have been provided for shutting off the flow of fuel upon cessation of thermoelectric energization of an electromagnet. These devices have employed a valve member and a connected armature which, when held in attracted position, holds the valve member in open position, and,

burner.

One of the main objects of the present invention is to provide in apparatus for controlling the flow of fuel to fluid fuel burning apparatus having a main valve for controlling the flow of fuel to the main burner, an electromagnetic operator for the main valve, and a safety shutolf'valve for a pilot burner, cocking means for manually cocking the pilot burner valve to open position, and means actuated by the cocking operation of said cocking means 'for assuring, during the cocking operation of the pilot burner valve and independently of the electric circuit for the electromagnetic operator for the main valve, closing of said main valve against any tendency of the electromagnetic operator to hold the main valve in open position. The present invention thereby eliminates any possibility of manually cocking the pilot burner'valve to open position without shutting-of the flow of fuel to the main burner such as might occur in apparatus according to the present invention where, for example, the apparatus is in operation and the fuel for the main burner is momentarily shut off or fails and a cocking operation for the pilot burner valve is'accomplished before the thermoelectric generator has cooled sufiiciently to drop out the main valve with resulting closing of said main valve.

Another object is to provide a device in which there is a first valve member operable, when closed, to shut off the-flow of fuel, for example, to a main burner; a second valve member operable, when closed, to shut olf the flow 0frfuel,:for example, to a pilot burner; an armature con- 2,856,946 Patented Oct. 21, 1958 ice nected to the second valve member; an electromagnet adapted, when thermoelectrically energized, to hold the armature in attracted position and the second valve member in open position;'the second valve member moving'to closed position and the armature to retractedpositionupon cessation of thermoelectric energization of the electromagnet; and means actuatedby movement of the'second valve member to closed position for causing the first valve member .to close by the closing movement of the second valve member.

Another object of .the invention is to provide a device of the character set forth in which the'means actuated by movement of the second valve member toiclosedpos'ition for causing'thefirst valve memberi'to close'by the closing movement of the second valve member is released from cooperation with the first valve memberupon movement of the second valve member to open position and the armature to attracted position; also wherein 'there is'a thermoelectrically powered electromagnet operator .for controlling the first valve member when the second valve member is open and the armature is in attracted position.

Another object of the invention is to ,providea'device of the character set forth wherein there' is a thermostat or other condition responsive device, or combination of such devices, for controlling the thermoelectric energization of the thermoelectrical'ly powered electromagnet operator.

Another object of "the invention is to providev in a device of the character set forth,'reset meansforiactuating the second'valve member to open position .and the armature to attracted position, and means actuated bysuch reset means and cooperable with the first valve member .to

'close' the same by the resetting operation of the reset means.

Another object of the invention is to provide .in adevice of the-character set'forth, a shut-'oif co-c'khaving'an second valve member, and which shut-off cock is operable to closed position shutting off the passage of fuel to both such ports.

'The invention also comprises structural features [for accomplishing the results set forth, and the combination and arrangement of the several parts to be hereinafter fully described, illustrated in the drawings, andxspecifical- 1y pointed out in the claims.

Further objects and advantages, and various modifications and adaptations of the invention, will appear from the following detailed description taken in connection'wi'th the accompanying drawings.

In the drawings: v

Figure 1 is a sectional view of a control device embodying the present invention "taken on theline l'1 of Figure 3, and shows diagrammatically one illustrative system employing the same;

Figure 2 is a front elevational view of'the control device shown in Figure 1;

Figure 3 is an end view of the device 'lookingtow'ar d the right hand end of the device as it is shown inFigures l and 2; and

Figure 4 is a top plan view of the electromagnet of the thermoelectricallypowered electromagnet operator for the main valve member.

Referring now to the drawings, the embodiment of the invention selected for illustration comprises a valve body 1 having a gaseous fuel inlet 2, a.first gaseous fuel outlet 3, and a second gaseous'fuel outlet 4.

A fuel supply pipe 5 is connected to the inlet 2, and a fuel supply pipe 6 is connected to the outlet 3. Another fuel supply pipe 7 is connected to the outlet 4. The wall 8 has a truncated conical bore '9 in which a truncated conicalgas'cock 10 is seated for turning movement. The inlet 2 opens into the bore 9 and, at diametrically opposite position, the wall 8 has an opening 11 which opens into the interior of the valve body 1 for passage of gaseous fuel to the outlets 3 and 4.

The cock or plug has a passage 12 extending diametrically therethrough, and an externally exposed finor pointer 14 with an ()fl" marking on the valve body 1, the passage 12 is completely out of register with the inlet 2 and opening 11 and shuts ofl the flow of gaseous fuel into the valve body 1.

The fuel supply pipe 6 leads to a main burner 16, for example, through a mixing chamber 17 to which air is admittedthrough adjustable air inlets (not shown) for admixture with the gas, as well understood in the art.

The pipe 7 leads to a pilot burner 18 for the supply of gaseous fuel thereto. The pilot burner 18 is located in juxtaposition to the main burner 16, to maintain a pilot flame for igniting the burner 16. The burner 16 may be the main burner for a space heater or water heater, or it may be any other burner.

An armature arm 20, carrying an armature 20', is pivoted on the upper end of a bracket 21 by a pair of screws one of which is shown at 22, for example, in the manner more fully disclosed in the copending application of Donley S. Collins, Gerald E. Dietz, and Adolph J. Hilgert, Serial No. 249,778, filed October 4, 1951, now Patent No. 2,790,937, granted April 30, 1957. A main or first valve member 23, connected at 24 to the armature arm 20, is adapted to seat against an annular valve seat 25 at the inner end of the outlet port 3 to shut ofl the flow of gaseous fuel to the main burner 16. The valve member 23 preferably has relative movement for selfaccommodation to the valve seat 25,. and has open position separated from the seat 25 for flow of fuel to the main burner.

A contractile spring 26 is connected at one end to the armature arm 20 and, at its other end, to the bracket 21 at 27. This spring yieldingly urges or biases the armature arm 20 to retracted position, closing the valve member 23 against the valve seat 25.

The thermoelectrically powered electromagnet operator, designated in general at 28, is preferably of the type more fully disclosed and claimed in the copending application of Donley S. Collins, Gerald E. Dietz, and 'Adolph J. Hilgert herein previously identified.

Suflice it for purposes of the present application to state that the operator 28 has a core comprising a pair of small diameter posts 29, the ends of which are expanded in openings 30 in a pair of pole pieces 31 at one end and in a common pole piece 32 at the other end, and thereafter heat-treated, which causes a deformation and joining of the grains of metal so that the posts 29 and pole pieces 31 and 32 are practically in one piece. Where the material used for the core of the operator Will-permit, the posts 29 and pole pieces 31 and 32 may be formed in one piece. The coil 34 is wound around the posts 29 and between the pole pieces 31 and 32, and comprises, as an illustrative example, approximately 72 turns of No. 15 gauge copper wire having a resistance approximately equal to the resistance of the thermocouple 35, although some variance is permissible without upsetting the operation characteristic of the device.

The single thermocouple 35 comprises a pair of dissimilar thermocouple elements 36 and 37 joined at 38 to form a hot junction disposed in the pilot burner flame or where it will be heated by the flame of the pilot burner 18 as long as the pilot burner is ignited. One cold junction 39 of the thermocouple is connected in circuit with one end of the coil or winding 34 by a conductor 40, and the other cold junction is grounded at 41. The other end of the coil 34 is connected by a conductor 42 to ground at 43, preferably through a condition-responsive circuit-controlling device which may take the form of a thermostat shown schematically at 44. The circuitcontrolling device 44 opens and closes the circuit of the coil 34 upon the occurrence of predetermined conditions, for example temperature conditions, and the specific form of said device may vary within the concept of the invention.

A thermoelectric safety shut-01f device is provided, as indicated in general at 46 in Figure 1. This device may, for example, be in the form disclosed in the copending application of Earl A. Fritz, Serial No. 186,390, filed September 23, 1950, now Patent No. 2,763,712, granted September 18, 1956.

Suflice it for purposes of the present application to state that the device 46 comprises a generally U-shaped magnet frame 47 carried by a terminal bushing 48. A coil 49 Wound around the legs of the magnet frame 47 is grounded at one end at 50. The opposite end of the coil 49 is connected in circuit with the cold junction 39 of the thermocouple 35 by a conductor 51. A hood 52 is applied over the magnet frame 47 and coil 49 and is spun into engagement with or otherwise attached to the terminal bushing 48.

A stem 54 is mounted for reciprocatory movement through an opening in the inner end of the hood 52. An armature 55 is mounted for relative movement on the inner end of the stem 54 to permit self-accommodation to the pole faces of the magnet frame 47. A valve disc 56 is mounted for relative movement on the outer end of the stem 54 for self-accommodation to an annular valve seat 57 at the inner end of the outlet port 4. A coiled spring 58 is interposed between the hood 52 and a radial flange or abutment 59 on the valve stem 54, and moves the valve disc 56 to closed position against the valve seat 57 upon cessation of thermoelectric energization of the electromagnet comprising the magnet frame 47 and coil 49, for example, upon extinguishment of the pilot burn'er flame.

For the purpose of causing the first or main valve member 23 to close by the closing movement of the second or pilot burner valve 56, a lever 60 is pivoted at 61. for example, on an extension of the bracket 21. One end of the lever 60 is positioned for engagement by the flange or abutment 59 on the stem 54. The other end of the lever 60 is positioned for cooperation witha protuberance 62 on the armature arm 20. When the flame of the pilot burner 18 is extinguished, the armature 55 is released, and spring 58 moves the valve member 56 to closed position shutting off the flow of gas to the pilot burner 18. The stem 54 accompanies the movement of the valve member 56 to closed position, and the abutment 59 engages the lever 60 and swings the same clockwise about its pivot 61. In this pivotal movement of the lever 60, its opposite end engages the protuberance 62 and forces the valve member 23 to closed position with a high sealing force.

When the valve member 56 is reset to open position and the armature 55 to attracted position, the valve member 56 may engage the adjacent end of the lever 69 and swing it counterclockwise to position released from the protuberance 62 as shown in dotted lines in Figure 1. Alternatively, a spring (not shown) may be connected to the lever 60 for swinging it to its released position when the valve member 56 is moved to open position and armature 55 to attracted position.

If the energization of the electromagnet, comprising the magnet frame 47 and coil 49while suflicient to 56 to open position, -a manual-reset or cocking button 1 65 may be provided for actuating the pilot'valve 56 from closed position to its open position.

The reset button 65 is carried by the outer end of a reset stem 68 having reciprocatory movement through the wall of the control body l, for example, in a sealing bushing shown more or less diagrammatically at 69. When the button 65 is depressed, the inner end of the stem :68 contacts lever 60 through a suitable connection comprising .apin on stem 68 and an opening formed in :an extension of lever 60 at 70 and swings the lever 60 counterclockwise about its pivot 61. During this movement, the lever 60 engages the abutment 59 and moves -the armature 55 to attracted position and the valve member 56 .to open position.

The reset stem 68 also has arprotuberance 72 which, when the button 65 is depressed, engages a protuberance 73 at the back' of the .connection of the valve member 23 to the armature arm'20. This .forces the valve member '23 to closed position against any tendency of the electromagnetic operator 28 to hold the valve member 23 in open position thereby assuring interruption of the fiow of gas to the main burner 16 during the resetting operation. The present invention thereby eliminates any possibility of manually cocking the pilot burner valve 56 to open position without shutting off the flow of fuel to-the main burner such as might occur in apparatus according to the present invention where, for example, the apparatus is in operation and the fuel for the main burner is momentarily shut off or fails and a cooking operation-of the pilot burner valve isaccomplished before the thermoelectric generator 35 has cooled sufficiently to drop out the main valve 23 with resulting closing of said main valve. When the reset button 65 is released, a coiled spring 75 returns the button 65 and its stem :68 to their outwardly projecting positions.

Terminal connector means is shown more or less diagrammatically atBtlforconnecting the lead conductor means of the thermocouple 35 incircuit with the .coil 4-9.

Where the condition-responsive means 44 is in the form of, or includes, a thermostat within the control body 1, a temperature selecting or adjustment knob 82 maybe provided on the outside of the control body 1 for adjusting the temperature at which, for example, the thermostat contacts (not shown) separate.

Operation To place the control in operation, the gas cook is turned to the On position and the reset button 65 is depressed. This causes the protuberance 72 to contact the protuberance 73 which holds the main valve member 23 'in closed position and assures that the flow of gas to the main burner during the resetting or cocking operation will remain interrupted.

As the cocking button 65 is depressed, its stem also contacts the extension of lever tl at 75) and swings the lever 60 in a direction to move the valve member 56 to open position and the armature 55 to attracted position. This allows gas to flow to the pilot burner 18, which, when ignited, heats the hot junction 38 of the thermocouple 35. When the electromagnet, comprising the magnet frame -37 and coil 49, is thermoelectrically energized and holds the armature 55 in attracted position and the valve -member'56 in open position, the cocking button 65 .is released. This releases the valve member 23 for automatic operation by the thermoelectrically powered electromagnet operator 28.

'When the flame of the pilot burner is extinguished, the armature 55 is released, and valve member 56 moves to closed position, which shuts off the flow of gas to the pilot burner 18. During movement of the valve member 56 to closed position, the abutment 59 engages the lever 64? and swings the same into engagement with theprotuberance 62 which closes the valve member 23 to shut off the flow of fuel to the main burner 16 if said valve member has not-already lieen closed and-said fuel now shut-ofiby release of the armature-20', said engage- "ment supplying'the valve member 23 with a high sealing force.

The embodiment of the invention shown in the drawings is for illustrative purposes on1y, and it is to be expressly understood-that 'saiddrawings and-theaccornpanyi'ng specification'are not'to be cons'trued' as a 'defimtion of the limits or scope of the invention, referenee being'had to the appended'claims for thatpur'pose.

5 claim:

1. In a thermoelectrically powered co'ntrol d'evi'ce, in combination, a valve body having a fuelinlet, a -fir's't 'outlet adapted to supply fuelto a'ma-in burnerand -'a second outlet adapted to-sup'ply 'fu'el 'to-a' pilot hunter, 2. first valve member having a "closed position directly closing said first outlet and an open positionga s'eco'nd valve member having a l closed position "direc'tlyclosing said second outlet and a'nopen'position, means "for moving said second valve member to open'position, an armature connected to said second valve member, an electromagnet cooperating with said armature and adapted when thermoelectrically energized to hold said armature in attracted position and said second valve member in open position, said second valve member and "said armaturebeing biased formovement of saidsecond valve member to clo-sedposi'tio'n and said armature to retracted position "upon cessation of thermoelectr c energization of said electromagnet, means actuated directly "by r'novemen't of said secondvalve member to closed position 'for causing said first valve member'to close by theclosing "movement of said secondvalve member, said last means b'eing releasedfrom cooperation with said first valve r'nember upon movement of said second valve member to open position and said armature to attracted position, and rneans comprising-a pivoted armature arm and a thermoelectrically powered '-electromagn'et operator-tor swinging said pivoted armature arm in a direction to o'pen'said first valve member when said second valve member is "open and said armature connected 'to'saicl second valve member is in attracted position. 7 i

2. "In a thermoe'lectric'allypowered control device, in combination, a valve body 'having-a'fue'l 'inlet, -'a 'fir'st fuel outlet adapted to supply-fuel to a main burner and a second outletadapted to 'supplyffuel to a pilot burner, a first valve member having a closed positionclosing said first outlet and an'open position, a pivoted arm carrying said first valve member, means for moving saidfirst 'valve memberto open'p'osit'ion, asecond valvemember 'with said second valve member and with th'e pivoted arm carrying said first valve memberfo-r closing said first valve member by the closing movement "of said second valve member.

3. A thermoelectrically powered controldevice according to claim 2 wherein the means for moving said first valve member to open position comprises an armature carried -by the pivoted arm carrying the first valve member, and a thermoelectrically powered electromagnet operator cooperating with said armature and adapted when energized and when the'second valve member is open to actuate said first valve member to open position.

4. In a device for thecontrol 10f -fiuid fuel,-in"coin-.

'bination, inlet means, outlet means and passage means therebetween, a pivoted armature arm having a protuberance thereon, an electromagnetic operator cooperating with said armature arm for operating said armature arm, a first valve member disposed in said passage means and connected to said arm, a second valve member disposed in said passage means and having a closed position and an open position with respect to a portion of said passage means, holding means for holding said second valve member in open position, means for closing said second valve member upon release of said holding means, a pivoted lever cooperating with the protuberance on said armature arm and with an abutment connected with said second valve member to close said first valve member with respect to another portion of said passage means by the closing movement of said second valve member, cocking means cooperable with said pivoted lever to cock said second valve member to open position and into holding cooperation with said holding means, and means on said cocking means for holding said first valve member closed by the cocking operation ofsaid cocking means.

5. In a device of the class described, in combination, inlet means, outlet means and passage means therebetween, an electromagnetic operator, a pivoted armature arm cooperating with said operator and actuated and adapted to be held in attracted position by said electromagnetic operator, a first valve member disposed in said passage means operatively coacting with said armature arm and adapted to be held in open position by said armature arm when the latteris in attracted position, a second valve member disposed in said passage means having an open position and biased to closed position, holding means for holding said second valve member in open position, cocking means for cocking said second valve member to open position and into holding cooperation with said holding means, and means operatively coacting with said armature arm and with said second valve member for holding said first valve member in closed position whenever said second valve member is in closed position and against any tendency of said electromagnetic operator to hold said first valve member in open position.

6. In a device of the class described, in combination, a valve body having inlet means, a first outlet and having a second outlet in a different position, a first valve member having a closed position directly closing one outlet and having an open position, a second valve member biased to a closed position directly closing the other outlet only and having an open position, an electromagnetic operator mechanically and directly connected to said firstvalve member and tending when energized to move said valve member to open position, holding means for holding said second valve member in open position when moved thereto, cocking means for moving said second valve member to open position and into holding cooperation with its holding means comprising a reciprocatory stem and a pivoted lever cooperable with said stem and with an abutment connected to said second vmve member, and an abutment on said stem cooperating directly with said first valve member to hold the latter closed by the cocking operation of said cocking means despite possible energization of said operator tending to move said first valve member to open position during said cocking operation.

7. A control device comprising, in combination, inlet means, outlet means, and passage means therebetween, a first flow-controlling member disposed within said passage means having first and second positions, a second flow-controlling member disposed within said passage means having a first position and biased to a second position, an electromagnetic operator cooperating with said first flow-controlling member and having an electrical circuit, said operator tending when energized to hold said first flow-controlling member in its said first position, holdving means for holding said second flow-controlling memtion with said holding means, means external to said electrical circuit and actuated by the cocking operation of said cocking means for overcalling said operator and assuring disposition of said first flow-controlling member in its said second position during said cocking operation despite possible energization of said electromagnetic operator tending to hold said first flow-controlling member in its said first position during said cocking operation, and means cooperable with said first and second flowcontrolling members, and operative upon release of said holding means and movement of said second flow-controlling member to its said second position, for holding said first flow-controlling member in its said second position.

8. In a device of the class described, in combination, inlet means, outlet means and passage means therebe-- tween, electromagnetic operator means including a magnet core having windings thereon and a pivoted armature arm cooperating with said core and actuated and adapted to be held in attracted position by said magnet core and winding, a first valve member disposed in said passage means operatively coacting with said armature arm and adapted to be held in open position by said armature arm when the latter is in attracted position, a second valve member disposed in said passage means having an open position and biased to closed'position, holding means for holding said second valve member in open position, cocking means for cocking said second valve member to open position and into holding cooperation with said holding means, and means operatively coacting with said electromagnetic operator means and with said second valve member for positioning said first valve member in closed position Whenever said second valve member is in closed position.

9. In a device of the class described, in combination, inlet means, outlet means and passage means therebetween, a first valve member disposed within said passage means and movable to open and closed positions, an electroresponsive operator for said first valve member operable when energized to actuate said valve member to open position, a second valve member also disposed within said passage means and having an open position and biased toward a closed position, holding means for bolding said second valve member in open position, cocking means comprising a reciprocatory stem for cocking said second valve member to open position and into holding cooperation with said holding means, and an abutment on said stem cooperating directly with said first valve member to hold the latter closed .by the cocking operation of said cocking means despite possible energization of said operator tending to move said first valve member toward open position during said cocking operation.

10. In a device of the class described, in combination, inlet means, outlet means and passage means therebetween, a first valve member disposed within said passage means and movable to open and closed positions, an electroresponsive operator for said first valve member operable when energized to actuate said valve member to open position, a second valve member also disposed within said passage means and having an open position and biased toward a closed position, holding means for bolding said second valve member in open position, cocking means comprising a reciprocatory stem and a pivoted lever cooperable with said stem and with said second valve member for cocking said second valve member to open position and into holding cooperation with said holding means, and an abutment on said stem cooperating directly with said first valve member to hold the latter closed by the cocking operation of said cocking means despite possible energization of said operator tending to 9 move said first valve member toward open position dur- 2,363,073 ing said cocking operation. 2,566,372 2,601,321 References Cited in the file of this patent 2,604,107 UNITED STATES PATENTS 5 2,635,632 Re. 22,068 Joesting Apr. 14, 1942 2,687,738 7 2,253,670 Wetzel Aug. 26, 1941 2,729,285

' 10 V Mantz Nov. 21, 1944 Ray Sept. 4, 1951 Ray June 24, 1952 Huntington et a1 July 22, 1952 Mayer Apr. 21, 1953 Thornbery Aug. 31, 1954 Ray Jan. 3, 1956 

